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Job 34

Job 34

Elihu Asserts God's Justice

[1] Then Elihu answered and said:

[2] “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
[3] for the ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
[4] Let us choose what is right;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
[5] For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,
and God has taken away my right;
[6] in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
[7] What man is like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
[8] who travels in company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men?
[9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’

[10] “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
[11] For according to the work of a man he will repay him,
and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
[12] Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
[13] Who gave him charge over the earth,
and who laid on him the whole world?
[14] If he should set his heart to it
and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
[15] all flesh would perish together,
and man would return to dust.

[16] “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
[17] Shall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
[18] who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
[19] who shows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich more than the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
[20] In a moment they die;
at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

[21] “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
[22] There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
[23] For God has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
[24] He shatters the mighty without investigation
and sets others in their place.
[25] Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
[26] He strikes them for their wickedness
in a place for all to see,
[27] because they turned aside from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways,
[28] so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
[29] When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
[30] that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.

[31] “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
[32] teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
[33] Will he then make repayment to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore declare what you know.
[34] Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
[35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words are without insight.’
[36] Would that Job were tried to the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
[37] For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.” (ESV)